All Articles

JEDDAH, April 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - A second U.S. military aircraft, an A-10 Thunderbolt II, was struck by Iran on Friday, forcing the pilot to eject after flying the plane out of Iranian territory, a U.S. official familiar with the matter told CNN. The pilot was later rescued, the official said. Iran’s military said the aircraft crashed into the Persian Gulf after its air defense systems targeted it near the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media

SPA JEDDAH, April 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Jeddah on Friday, where they discussed bilateral ties and regional developments amid escalating military tensions in the region. The talks covered opportunities to expand relations between Saudi Arabia and Italy, the Saudi Press Agency reported. They also discussed the impact of the regional military escalation, including risks to freedo

A file image shows natural gas wells at the Habshan gas complex in Abu Dhabi in January 2007. Stringer/Reuters ABU DHABI, April 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Abu Dhabi’s government media office said on Friday that one Egyptian national was killed and four expatriates were lightly wounded in fires at the Habshan gas facilities caused by falling debris after the interception of an Iranian aerial attack. The injured included two Egyptians and two Pakistanis, all with mi

SPA RIYADH, April 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Qiddiya City announced on Friday that Aquarabia, billed as the Middle East’s largest water park, will officially open on April 23 as the kingdom continues to expand its entertainment offerings. The water park will feature 22 rides and attractions, including four described as world record-breaking, across more than 250,000 square metres and eight themed zones inspired by Saudi Arabia’s environmental and natural diversity

The route taken by the ship CMA CGM Kribi through the Strait of Hormuz shown on the Marine Traffic website. Marine Traffic RIYADH, April 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - A French-owned container ship crossed the Strait of Hormuz, according to shipping data, in one of the latest signs of limited commercial movement through the waterway since the war disrupted regional shipping. Reuters reported that the vessel was the Malta-flagged Kribi, operated by CMA CGM. The ship pa

SPA RIYADH, April 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Jeddah on Friday. She was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport by Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region. Also present at the airport were Jeddah Mayor Saleh Al Turki, Makkah Region Police Director Major General Saleh Al Jabri, Italian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Carlo Baldocci, and Ahmad Abdullah bin Dhafer, Director General of

CNN analysis indicates that the damaged fighter jet ejection seat, pictured, is consistent with a type used in an F-15 fighter jet. Obtained via X RIYADH, April 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - The U.S. military launched a search-and-rescue operation on Friday after Iranian state media said an American fighter jet went down over southwestern Iran and that at least one crew member ejected. Reuters separately reported, citing a U.S. official, that a U.S. fighter jet had b

SPA RIYADH, April 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani sent condolences to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on the passing of Princess Aljawhara bint Faisal bin Abdullah Al Abdulrahman Al Saud, mother of Prince Mohammed bin Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Qatar’s Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani also sent condolences to King Salman over the passing of Princess Aljawhara bint

RIYADH, April 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and take Iranian oil, in comments that appeared to depart from his recent position that securing the vital waterway was not Washington’s responsibility. AP reported that Trump wrote on social media, “With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE.” Trump’s remarks contrasted with

RIYADH, April 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - A local channel affiliated with Iranian state television claimed on Friday that a U.S. fighter pilot had ejected over southwestern Iran, while police called on the public to hand over any pilots found alive to security authorities. U.S. officials did not immediately confirm the claim. The channel in Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province said viewers who captured any “enemy pilot or pilots” alive and turned them over to polic

KUWAIT CITY, April 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Kuwait said on Friday that an attack damaged a desalination plant, after a drone strike hit an oil refinery earlier in the day. Authorities said the attack on the desalination facility caused material damage to some of the plant’s components, without providing further details. The reported damage came after drones struck an oil refinery on Friday morning. Desalination is critical to water supply across the Gulf, and K

WAM RIYADH, April 2, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – United Arab Emirates President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a phone call on Thursday from His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein of Jordan, during which the two leaders discussed regional developments and their implications for regional and international security and stability. During the call, the two sides discussed what they described as continued Iranian attacks targeting the UAE, Jo

SPA RIYADH, April 2, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call on Thursday from Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the two sides discussed the fast-moving situation amid the military escalation in the region. During the call, Putin expressed Russia’s support for preserving the sovereignty and territorial security of Saudi Arabia, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The discussions also cove

RIYADH, April 2, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Austria has denied U.S. requests to use its airspace for military operations related to Iran, citing the country’s neutrality law, according to the Austrian Defense Ministry and media reports on Thursday. A ministry spokesperson said there had been “several” requests from Washington and that each case would be examined in coordination with the Foreign Ministry. The move makes Austria the latest European country to restrict

ASSEN, Netherlands, April 2, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – A 2,500-year-old golden helmet and two other ancient Romanian treasures stolen from a museum in the Netherlands were recovered after suspects in custody provided information that led investigators to them, Dutch prosecutors said on Thursday. The artefacts, linked to Geto-Dacian communities, were presented at a press conference at the Drents Museum in the northern Dutch city of Assen, where they had been on loan

SPA RIYADH, April 2, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held separate phone calls on Thursday with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, discussing cooperation and recent regional developments. During the call with Motegi, the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation and the latest developments in the region, according to the Saudi Press Agency. In a separate call, Princ

RIYADH, April 2, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that reopening the Strait of Hormuz through military force was unrealistic, arguing that any effort to restore passage through the strategic waterway would have to involve coordination with Iran after a ceasefire. Speaking during a visit to South Korea, Macron said France had not chosen the military option and did not view it as viable. A forced operation to reopen the strai

REUTERS RIYADH, April 2, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan and Qatar condemned what they said was an Israeli law allowing the death penalty to be imposed in the occupied West Bank and applied against Palestinians. In a joint statement, the ministers said the measure marked a dangerous escalation, particularly because of what they described as its discriminatory appli